Automatic code key cutter



3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS GEORGE P PATRIQUIN Y HARRYJHANER ATTORNEY JIM. I w

P 6, 1969 e. P. PATRIQUIN ETAL AUTOMATIC CODE KEY CUTTER Filed April 13, 1967 p 16, 1969 G. P. PATRIQUIN ETAL AUTOMATIC CODE KEY CUTTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 13, 1967 W I Fll l l II ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,466,747 AUTOMATIC CODE KEY CUTTER George P. Patriquin, Gardner, and Harry J. Bauer, Clinton, Mass, assignors to Cole National Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 630,571 Int. Cl. B25f 3/00; 323d 15/04, 15/08 U.S. Cl. 30-131 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved key cutting device for cutting key blanks in accordance with a code signifying the depth of the key cuts, to arrive at a desired combination, the cutter including automatic indexing means for advancing the blank during the cutting operation properly to space the cuts lengthwisely with respect to the "blank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to code key cutters. More particularly, this invention relates to key cutters which, unlike cutters of the tracer type, do not require the presence of a properly cut key for the formation of a replacement key, the height of the various locking tumbler or disk operating reference points being signified by a code number.

In cutters of the code type, a blank is inserted into the mechanism of the cutter and various adjustments made to the cutter, sections being removed from the blank in accordance with codes supplied by the supplier of the original key.

Description of the prior art The majority of replacement keys require for their fabrication a properly cut key. The cut key and a key blank of identical cross section are disposed in an apparatus which traces the bitting configuration of the cut key and cuts an identical hitting configuration in the blank. In certain fields, particularly the automobile industry, it is standard practice for a supplier of the original key to provide a code number, generally comprising a series of numerals, the order of the numerals signifying the longitudinal position of a out along the length of a key and the numeral itself signifying the depth of cut to be formed at such position. By this means and through the use of various types of apparatuses heretofore known, it is possible, with knowledge of the code, to cut a key blank to a proper configuration.

Code cutters heretofore known have suffered from a variety of disadvantages which have restricted their effective use to highly experienced locksmiths. Since each lock manufacturer typically spaces apart the disks or tumblers of its lock a predetermined different amount than each other lock manufacturer, code cutters have required complex manual adjustments after the formation of each cut properly to position the key blank for the next cut.

Obviously, if the cuts are not formed so that their deepest portions are spaced apart in precise correspondence to the spacing of the tumblers or disks of the associated lock, the key cannot function properly.

Similarly, each lock manufacturer employs a scale for out depths wherein each depth of cut in a scale differs from each succeeding depth of cut by a precise amount. For instance, a #1 cut of one manufacturer may differ from a #2 cut of that manufacturer (and a #2 cut from a #3 cut, etc.) by .018". A second lock manufacturer may vary the cut depths in increments of .0125". Also the reference point from which cut depths 3,466,747 Patented Sept. 16, 1969 are measured will vary from maker to maker. Thus, it is necessary in code cutting procedures to make depthwise and lengthwise adjustments between each cut, which depthwise and lengthwise adjustments will vary in accordance with the individual manufacturer of the lock.

The problem is multiplied by the fact that various manufacturers may change the scales used from time to time. Thus, the operator of a code cutting apparatus is required to maintain current charts for the various manufacturers and to make lentghwise and heightwise adjustments for each and every cut formed in a key blank.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a code key cutter wherein the operation of the device is greatly simplified to the end that a more rapid and accurate code cutting may be effected.

The invention further relates to a cutter of the type described wherein the lengthwise position between cuts formed on the blank is positively and automatically effected, thereby to reduce the operations and adjustments necessary in the cutting of a blank.

Cam means are provided which automatically index or lengthwisely shift the key blank following each cutting operation, the cam means being selected to shift the blank in accordance with manufacturers specifications as to the longitudinal spacing of cuts. Thus, once the proper cam is selected, all lengthwise indexing is automatically effected, relieving the operator of this task.

In similar fashion, improved means are provided for varying the depth of cut so that the operator may rapidly arrive at the proper cut depth signified by each code indication.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the elimination of the clamping operation required in the use of known code key cutters, the code cutter of the present invention being susceptible of operation by a simple insertion of the blank into the cutting mechamsm.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved key cutter of the code type.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cutter of the type described wherein lengthwise indexing of the blank being cut is automatically effected.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a cutter of the type described having a simplified scale arrangement which greatly facilitates the depthwise adjustment of the cutter for making various cuts.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a cutter of the type described wherein an initial lengthwise positioning of the blank in the blank receiver is greatly facilitated and may be effected without the necessity for operating clamping screws or like blank gripping apparatuses.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view of a code cutter in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the cutter shown in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the said cutter;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a magnified vertical section taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a magnified vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a longitudinal adjustment cam in accordance with the invention.

In accordance with the invention, a frame 10 includes a base portion 11 provided with a transversely shiftable key cutter carriage 12. The carriage, at its lowermost end, is provided with a dove-tail slide 13 which is guided in a complementally formed track 14 on the base member of the frame adjacent the forward end 15 thereof. The carriage 12 is thus permitted to shift transversely of the frame.

The carriage includes a vertically extending guide bracket 16 having vertical spaced apertures 17, 18 formed thereinsee FIGURE 5. A punch member 19 is journalled for Vertical reciprocatory movement in the guide apertures 17 and 18.

The punch member is headed at its upper end 20, a coil spring 21 being biased between the headed portion and an upper surface of bracket 16 to maintain the punch in a normally raised position. The punch is provided with a vertical guide groove 22, a threaded guide pin 23 extending from the bracket 16 into the groove to lock the punch against rotation within the guide apertures 17, 18.

The punch 19 is provided with a vertical recessed portion 24, the upper edge of the recessed portion defining a hardened cutter lip 25. The cutter lip 25 is beveled or angled upwardly in the area 26, as best seen in FIG- URE 5. Additionally, the cutter portions 25, 26 are generally triangular in horizontal cross section, said portions intimately fitting within a vertically extending guideway 27 defined by the bracket 16 and forming an anvil for the cutter.

The lower end of the punch 19 is provided with an aperture 28 forming a passageway to permit key increments severed by the action of the cutter portion 26 shifting into the anvil or guideway 27 to fall downwardly through the passageway and outwardly through the bore 28.

The base 11 is formed with a complemental aperture 29 in registry with the apertures 18 and 28, to permit the chips or increments C, as shown in FIGURE 5, to be cleared.

From the foregoing description of the punch mechanism, it will be understood that when the punch 19 is shifted downwardly, or through an operating cycle, an essentially triangular key segment disposed between the anvil 27 and the cutter portions 25, 26 will be nipped and will be permitted to drop clear of the mechanism.

The punch 19 is shifted through its operative cycle by an operator handle 30 having a presser foot 31 disposed vertically above the head 20 of the punch 19. The cutter assembly 12, as noted previously, is permitted a range of lateral movement, the range of movement being limited so that in all positions of the assembly, the head 20 of the punch is disposed beneath some portiton of the presser foot 31 of the operator handle. The operator handle is pivotally connected to the frame by a horizontal trunnion 32 which extends through a complemental bearing aperture 33 formed in the handle 30.

The laterally adjusted position of the cutter assembly 12 with respect to the base 11 is controlled by an adjustment wheel 34. The cutter assembly 12 is provided with an outwardly and rearwardly open clearance slot 35, as best seen inn FIGURES 3 and 5. A vertically disposed, hardened pin 36 extends across the slot. A horizontally disposed control lever 37 is mounted on a vertical pivot pin 38 affixed to the frame. The forward end 39 of the lever 37 is forked as at 40, the fork defining portions of the lever surrounding the pin 36.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that when the rear end 41 of the lever is shifted in a horizontal plane, a reverse, transverse or horizontal movement will be imparted by the forked portion of the lever to the pin 36, shifting the cutter mechanism laterally of the base to a position determined by the adjusted position of the lever 37.

The lever 37, adjacent the rear end 41, is provided with 4. a follower tooth 42 which is urged against the side cam surface 43 of a disk cam 44 by tension spring 45 stressed between pin seat 46 formed on the lever 37 and a fixed pin 47 mounted to the frame 10. The follower tooth 42 is thus maintained in constant contact with some portion of the cam surface 43 of the disk 44.

The disk 44 is keyed to a vertical shaft 48, the lower end of which shaft is journalled in a bearing 49 formed in the base 11. Rotation of the disk 44 about the axis of the shaft 48 will shift or scan various portions of the periphery 43 of the cam disk 44 against follower tooth 42 and it will be evident that the lateral adjusted position of the follower 42 and, hence, the transverse position of the cutter assembly 12, will depend upon the spacing from the axis of the shaft 48 of that particular part of the cam surface engaged by the tooth 42.

The adjustment wheel 34 is welded or otherwise nonrotatably affixed to the shaft 48 and provides the means for rotating the cam 44.

The adjustment wheel, as best seen in FIGURE 2, is provided about its periphery with a series of detent notches 50. The notches are disposed to be engaged by a detent tooth 51 biased toward the axis of rotation of the wheel 34 by a leaf spring 52. The engagement of the detent tooth 51 in one of the notches thus establishes a predetermined and repeatable relation between the wheel 34 and, hence, the disk 44, with the frame 10. Preferably, each notch is indexed and the notches are arranged in series or groups. As will be more fully explained hereinafter, the numerals within each group are coordinated with a code signifying the depth of cut to be formed in a key blank of a given manufacturer, and by merely dialing the number within any given series, the depth to be formed by the cutter assembly corresponding to the manufacturers code is set.

In the illustrated embodiment, it will be seen that four distinct cam segments are formed on the cam disk 44, corresponding with four distinct series of index numbers on the wheel 34. However, it will be obvious that more or fewer series may be provided, if desired.

The shaft 48 on which the disk 44 and wheel 34 are mounted is maintained in position on the frame by a threaded retainer pin 53 extending laterally inwardly in a complemental threaded bore 54 formed in the frame, the inner end of the pin lying within a circumferential groove 55 in the shaft 48.

The key holder assembly The key blanks to be out are supported in a rotatable and axially shiftable turret assembly 60, next to be described.

The turret assembly includes a hub 61 having a plurality of radially extending key receiving arms 62. The key receiver arms are bifurcated and formed with axially extending keyway sections 63 between the bifurcations, the keyway sections 63 corresponding exactly to portions of the cross section of key blanks to be cut. As best seen in FIGURE 5, a key blank K, when inserted into arm 62a, includes irregular section portions mated with the complementally formed bifurcations of the arm 62a, portions of the blank, when supported in the arm 62a, projecting radially beyond the outermost end of the turret. Optionally but preferably, the bifurcated halves defining each arm 62 are spaced apart a distance such that a key blank inserted into the arm is tightly gripped between the arm halves under the inherent springiness of the arm halves. Alternatively or additionally, radially extending springs (not shown) disposed between the bifurcations may press outwardly against the base of the key, tending to urge the key outwardly and augmenting the frictional grip of the turret on the key blank, outward radial shifting movement of the blank with respect to the turret being prevented by reason of the irregular mating cross-sections of the blank and the turret.

The turret 60 is mounted for rotation about axially extending shaft 64. The shaft 64 may be shifted axially within longitudinally directed guide bearing 65 formed in the frame 10. The shaft 64 is provided with an outwardly directed guide groove 66, the shaft being restrained against rotation by the tip 67 of guide bolt 68 which lies within the groove 66, the bolt being threaded into the frame of the cutter device.

The shaft 64 is urged rearwardly within the frame by a compression spring 69 which is sleeved over the shaft, the forward end 70 of the spring being biased against a portion of the frame and the rearward end 71 of the spring pressing against a follower assembly 72 fixed to reduced portion 73 of the rear end of the shaft.

The follower assembly 72 comprises spaced arms 74, 75, carrying a cross pin 76 on which is rotatably mounted a follower roller 77. The follower assembly 72 is secured on the reduced end 73 of the shaft 64 by a threaded locking pin 78 mounted in a complemental threaded bore 79 in the follower assembly 72 and having an inner end 80 bearing against the reduced portion 73 of the shaft.

The shaft 74, adjacent the rearward end 81 of the turret, is provided with a stop collar 82 which normally lies against a forward reference face 83 of the frame surrounding the bearing aperture 65 under the biasing force of the spring 69 (see dot and dash position, FIGURE 4).

From the foregoing it will be evident that a key blank supported in the turret will be shifted longitudinally of the cutter apparatus in accordance with the adjusted position of the shaft 64.

In the device of the present invention, means are provided for indexing or advancing the shaft 64 longitudinally with respect to the frame during each operation of the handle 30, the amount or extent that the shaft is indexed being determined by the manufacturers specifications as to spacing of the tumbler pins or disks. The indexing or advancing of the shaft 64 is accomplished by means of a series of indexing cams 90, shown in detail in FIGURE 7. The cams 90 are provided with a feed face 91, the slope angle or inclination of which determines the distance that the shaft 64 is shifted during each operation of the handle 30.

The slope 91 of each individual cam is coordinated with the pin spacing prescribed by the manufacturer of the lock which the key is to operate, so that the forward vector or component of movement imparted by the cam face 91 to the shaft advances the shaft the desired increment. The cam 90 includes laterally directed detent teeth 92 and on the opposite side, laterally directed ratchet teeth 93. The cam is inserted into a vertically directed slideway 94 having side clearance portions 95, 96 for receiving the detent and ratchet teeth 92, 93, respectively.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, the cam members 90 are insertible into the slideway only when one of the four generally radially arranged clearance slots 97 formed in the adjustment wheel 34 is rotated into alignment with the slideway 94.

With a slot 97 in the adjustment Wheel properly oriented, cam 90 is forced downwardly into the clearance slot until spring pressed detent ball 98 snaps into position between the first (lowermost) pair of detent seats 92'.

Means are provided on the frame for causing the cam member 90 to shift downwardly a predetermined increment after each operation of the handle member 30. Such means comprise a vertical slidable pawl plate 99 slidable within a clearance slot 100 defined within the frame 10. As best seen in FIGURES 4 and 6, the slide 99 includes a vertically directed clearance slot 101, spaced headed guide pins 102, 103 being passed through the slot .and secured in the frame to assure a movement of the plate 99 in a vertical plane only.

A tension spring 104 is stretched between spring supports 105 on the operator handle 30 and 106 on the frame, the spring being effective normally to urge the operator handle 30 to its downward (solid line) position as shown in FIGURE 4. A laterally shiftable pawl member 107 is carried adjacent the upper end 108 of the slide plate 99, the slide being slotted at 109, a pair of headed guide pins 110 extending through the slot 109 to constrain and guide the pawl 107 in its lateral movement.

The pawl 10 is urged laterally into contact with the ratchet teeth 93 of the cam 90 by a spring 111 biased between spring seat 112 on the pawl and laterally offset arm 113 formed on the slide 99. The lower face 114 of the offset portion 113 of the slide is disposed directly above a portion of the operator handle 30 so that when the operator handle 30 is raised (to shift the punch through a key cutting stroke), the slide 99 is lifted from the solid line to the dot and dash line position shown in FIGURE 6 by reason of the contact between the upper surface of the operator handle 30 and the portion 114.

In the course of such movement, the pawl 107 is cammed to the left as viewed in FIGURE 6, passing over a ratchet tooth 93 and in its uppermost position snapping behind the horizontally disposed surface of the next adjacent ratchet tooth. When the handle is released the slide 99 is drawn downwardly by contact of an under surface portion of the operator handle 30 against a lower offset portion 115 extending laterally from the slide 99. It will thus be seen that during each operation of the handle 30, the slide is lifted over one ratchet tooth without moving the cam 90 but, on the release of the handle 30, the pawl 107 will carry the cam downwardly a distance equal to the height of a ratchet tooth. The lateral pressure exerted by the detent pawl 98 against the detent tooth 92 will assure that the cam cannot fall free of its connection with the frame.

The apparatus is provided adjacent its front end with a stepped key blank locator portion 120. As best seen in FIGURE 2, the locator portion comprises a series of stop members 121, which stop members are disposed in longitudinally stepped relation one to the other. The stop members function to position the key blank in proper relation to the cutter apparatus for the formation of the initial cut.

Operation The operation of the device is as follows:

It is presumed that the locksmith is provided with a specific code indicative of the hitting of the key which is to be made. The locksmith is further aware of the identity of the key blank which must be employed to fit the cross section of the lock which the key is to operate.

With this information at hand, the operator rotates the adjustment wheel so that the appropriate series of notches 50 are positioned opposite the spring detent tooth 51, to align .a slot 97 in the wheel with the slideway 94. When this alignment has been achieved, a proper cam 90 to effect the necessary longitudinal spacing of the cuts is selected and forced downwardly into the slideway until the ball member 98 snaps into the land or recess between the first two ratchet teeth 92'.

Next, the selected key blank is inserted into the appropriately cross-sectioned key receiver slot 63 in the turret member 60. The turret is rotated to dispose the key blank opposite the appropriate one of the stepped shoulders 121 formed adjacent the front end of the cutter apparatus. The blank is forced inwardly against the stepped shoulder so that the shoulder directly adjacent the head of the key blank abuts the selected shoulder 121.

In order to facilitate the selection of an appropriate cam 90 and an appropriate series of index notches 50 on the cutter wheel, to reproduce a key for a particular brand of lock, and to select the matching locator shoulder 121, coordinated colors may be used. For instance, the cam member 90 may be colored green, as may be a quadrant or segment of the wheel 34 and one of the locator shoulders 121, signifying that with a particular brand of key, the wheel should be adjusted to the green quadrant or green indicia, the key inserted into abutting relation with the green shoulder 121 and a green colored cam inserted into the slideway 94.

After the key has been positioned as noted, to provide the proper depthwise adjustment within the turret, the turret is rotated in a clockwise direction so as to dispose the under surface of the key blank against the upper surface of the anvil 27, substantially as shown in FIGURE 5. In the course of the rotating movement, care must be taken not to disturb or axially shift the key blank within the appropriate keyway slot.

The operator next adjusts the cutter wheel to dispose the appropriate notch 50 corresponding to the first numeral of the code for the particular key opposite the detent tooth 51. The numerals opposite each detent notch 50 signify the height adjustment numbers of the code provided by the manufacturer. Thus, a code may read 1-323. In order to cut a key with such code, the Wheel 34 is rotated to disposed the appropriate index number, i.e. the first number of the code in the proper segment opposite the tooth 51, with the tooth 51 lying within the notch opposite the number 1. The operating handle 30 is then shifted from its solid line position to the dash line position, as shown in FIGURE 3, driving the punch member 19 downwardly through a cutting stroke.

Due to the inclined configuration of the cutter portion or lip 25, a slight pulling force (i.e. radially with respect to the axis of shaft 64) will be exerted by the cutter against the chip being removed from the key blank. This pulling force will assure that the chip is drawn free of the key blank and will resist any tendency toward forcing metal into the main body area of the key blank, thus to cause a burring or enlargement of the blank adjacent the area being cut.

After the formation of the first cut, the handle 30 is released to its downward position. In the course of the cutting cycle, the slide member 99 will have been shifted upwardly, causing the pawl 107 to pass over and engage against a different ratchet tooth 93. When the handle is released, the slide carrying the pawl 107 is shifted downwardly by the handle, carrying the cam 90 downwardly a distance equal to the length of a ratchet tooth 93 and thus causing the cam face 91, acting against the follower wheel 77, bodily to shift the shaft 64 carrying the turret 60 forward an increment equal to the desired spacing between key cuts.

The next cut is formed by adjusting the Wheel 34 in accordance with the second number of the code, i.e. 3, and thereafter squeezing the operator handle. The handle is again released, whereupon the turret shifts forward an increment, positioning the key for the formation of the third cut. Subsequent cuts to the numbers 2 and 3 are formed in the same manner, after which the formed key may be removed from the turret.

Optionally and preferably, the cut key may be passed across a wire brush or the like to remove any burrs which may have been formed in the course of cutting.

After the formation of the last cut, the operating handle may be compressed once or twice with no key blank in position, to clear the cam 90 from any connection with the pawl member 98, permitting the cam to fall free through the bottom of the slideway 94.

Obviously, the device should be provided with appropriate instructions indicating the identity of the cam, the proper shoulder 21 and the proper series of numerals to be employed in forming the keys of each lock manufacturer. It will be observed, however, that once the unit is properly set, only one adjustment need be made between successive code cutting steps, namely, adjustment of the cutter wheel 34. This is in contrast to code type cutters heretofore known wherein both a lengthwise and heightwise adjustment must be made each time any cut is required.

While the illustrated embodiment indicates a series of groups of cut depth adjustment indices, it will be readily recognized that by varying the nature of the disk cam 44,

a single lobed cam wheel with a multiplicity of indices may be employed.

Various modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described the invention and illustrat d its use, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A key cutter device comprising a frame, a cutter member mounted on said frame including a punch movable in a first path, operator handle means pivotally mounted on said frame in operable connection with said punch for moving said punch in said path responsive to movement of said handle through an operative cycle, a key holder turret mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said path, a plurality of key receiver slots of varying transverse dimension formed in said turret, said slots being selectively alignable at a cutting position adjacent said cutter member responsive to rotation of said turret, a stop shoulder on said frame adjacent said turret, said shoulder being angularly offset from said cutting position, said slots being selectively rotatable into alignment with said shoulder, said shoulder in said aligned position being disposed in blocking position of the key shoulder portion of a key inserted into said slot, and adjustment means for variably spacing said cutter member and turret.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said slots are irregularly cross sectioned to correspond to th cross section of selected keys, whereby radial movement of a key held in a slot is prevented.

3. A code key cutter device comprising a frame, a key punch mechanism including a punch and die mounted on said frame for movement in a path extending transversely of said frame, operator handle means movable through an operative cycle for driving said punch, a key holder device including a key support slot generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of said frame, said holder devic being disposed in proximate spaced relation to said punch mechanism, said holder device being movable perpendicularly with respect to the path of movement of said punch mechanism, cut depth adjustment means including an indicator associated with said punch mechanism for variably positioning said punch mechanism along said path in accordance with the setting of said indicator, a follower portion on said holder, a slideway on said frame, a cam member insertible endwisely into said slideway into engagement with said follower portion, said cam member including a plurality of ratchet teeth, pawl means operatively connected to said handle portion and engageable with successive ratchet teeth of said cam member responsive to successive operations of said handle to thus advance said cam means a predetermined distance along said slideway, movement of said cam means inducing a concomitant movement of said follower portion and, hence, said holder, in the direction of the axis of said frame.

4, A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said pawl and ratchet connection is automatically released, permitting said cam to drop free from said device responsive to multiple movements of said handle through said operative cycle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 319,429 6/1885 Smith et a1. 26957 1,615,020 l/1927 Loehr et al. --13.05 2,626,663 1/1953 Abrams 90-l3.05 2,701,482 2/1955 Otto a 26957 2,731,087 1/1956 Cole 90-.13.05 3,011,411 12/1961 Raymond 90-1305 GERALD A. DOST, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 83917; 269- 7 

